Eagles player gets defensive
Friday, July 9, 2010 at 10:03PM By Steven Bowers
On Monday, Winthrop senior forward Mantoris Robinson became the first back to back winner of the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Year award.
Robinson was part of the Eagles’ league-leading scoring defense, which has only given up 59.5 points per game.
Robinson ranks fifth in the Big South this season in steals per game (1.9).
He has generally been given the assignment of shutting down the opposition’s top scoring option.
He held Charlotte’s Shamari Spears to eight points, Cincinnati’s Lance Stephenson to six, Charleston Southern’s Jamarco Warren to six, VMI’s Keith Gabriel to six, and Coastal Carolina’s Joseph Harris to ten.
Robinson is only the third Winthrop player in history to record over 100 steals (139) and 500 rebounds (572). He ranks eighth in school history with 91 blocked shots.
Winthrop Head Coach Randy Peele said Robinson deserved the award.
“I have never coached a guy that can impact a game from the defensive end as well as Manny can,” Peele said. “I’ve never had anyone that can defend as many different positions.”
Peele’s praise of Robison continued.
“He’s one of my all-time favorites,” Peele said. “When I look back on my career, he’s one I’ll always remember.”
